Tension device



M 23, 1948- H. J. M DERMOTT v 2,438,180

'mismu DEVICE Filed larch 16, 1945 V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 23, 19-48 eras! 7 2,438,180 'rnNsroN navron Henry J. McDermott, Prospect Park, Pa assigns!- to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application March 16, 1945, Serial No. seams 8 Claims. (01. 242-150) This invention relates to a device for tensioning yarn during the winding or other continuous traveling thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved tension device in which wear caused thereon by the passage of yarn is distributed uniformly, thereby increasing the useful life of the device and improving its uniformity of operation throughout the period of its use. An ancillary object of the present invention is to provide a form of tension device which is capable of operating upon dry or wet yarns. A further object of the present invention is to provide a tension device capable of removing excess liquid from a wet yarn passing through it while at the same time exerting a substantially uniform tension uponthe yarn. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawing and description hereinafter.

Figure 1 is aface view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment oi Figure'l,

Figure 3 is a side view of a modification,

Figure 4 is an end view of another modification, and

Figure 5 is a view illustrating its application for the winding of yarns.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tension device of the present invention preferably comprises two flexible disks 2 and 3. Both disks are rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 4 and at least one (3 in the illustrated embodiment) is driven, such as by a motor 5 through gears or pulleys and belts. The disks 2 and 3 are of a flexible material such as thin spring steel of 0.003 to 0.005 inch in thickness. or of a plastic material such as Celluloid, vinyl resin sheets. cellulose ester sheets and the like. or suitable thickness to provide satisfactory resilience and flexibility, such as from A to ,4 inch. The resilient members are mounted on axes symmetrically inclined at such an angle with respect to a common line through their centers that outer portions of their rims are pressed together into firm contact. The area of contact may vary widely and is shown in Figure l, the area is delineated by a dotted line 8a.

The yarn proceeds through a guide 6 between the disks in such a manner that it is pinched between the two disks and then it passes through a guide 1 to the winding machine directly or through other handling machines. During operation. plate 3 is slowly rotated so as to change the position of contactof the disks with the yarn and thereby distribute the wear uniformly about 2 the outer portions of the contacting faces of the disks. As shown, only disk 3 is positively driven, preferably at a very slow speed and disk 2 is rotated by such action. If desired, disk 2 can be rotated positively eitherat the same or at so mewhat different speed than the disk 3.

As shown in Figure 3,'the driven disk 8 is rotated'by means of the yarn itself, this being accomplished by Zapping the yarn about a pulley 8 secured to a shaft-9 rotatably supported in a bearing l0 and carrying a pulley H. A belt i2 drives a pulley I3 for rotating the plate 3. The diameters of the pulleys 8, II and I3 are so selected with respect to the speed oi! travel of the yarn as to impart the desired slow speed, such as about one or two revolutions per minute, to the disk 3.

. Figure 4 illustrates a modification in which one of the disks 2a is of a rigid material rotatably mounted in the bracket 4 while the other disk 3a is of a flexible resilient material. Either the rigid or the flexible disk may be driven, the latter condition being shown.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention as applied to a winding machine for winding yarns from a cake or bobbin of rayon shown at l 4. The yarn proceeds through a guide l5 and may be oiled or wetted by a coating roll l6 partially immersed in a bath 11. Then the yarn proceeds through a sub-tension of conventional disk type shown at i8, and through the resilient rotating disks 2 and 3 oi the present invention, from which it proceeds through a guide 19, a traverse guide 20 to the winding or equivalent take-up means 2|. The use of the sub-tension i8 and the coating roll IB is optional and is merely shown as part of an illustrative winding arrangement.

Yarns, whether wet or dry, may be handled with equal efliciency. Besides distribution of wear, the rotation eflects continuous removal of lint or other foreign particles from the scene of tension. When handling wet yarns, such as shown in Figure 5, the pinching action of the rotating resilient disks serves-to prevent passage of the yarn with an excess of the liquid to thepoint of winding while at the same time exerting tension thereon. When handling wet yarns as shown in Figure 5, a wiper 22 may be provided to wipe ofl any film of liquid carried on the inner surfaces of the disks.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable members mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, at least one of the members being driven on its axis, and at least one of the members being of resiliently flexible character and being flexed out oi. its normal plane Of disposition by pressure against the other member.

2. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable members mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, at least one of the members being driven on its axis, at least one of the members being of resiliently flexible char-' acter and being flexed out of its normal plane of disposition by pressure against the other member, and means to guide the thread between the pressed portions the member.

3. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable disks mounted on axes of rotation in clined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, at least one of the disks being driven on its axis, at least one of the disks being of resiliently flexible character and being flexed out of its normal plane of disposition by pressure against the other member, and

means to. guide the thread between the pressed and means to guide the thread between the pressed portions oi! the disks.

5. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable disks mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, at least one of the disks 0! resiliently flexible character and being flexed out oi its normal plane 01' disposition by pressure against the other member, and means to guide 3111: ksthread between the pressed portions oi the 6. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable members mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed iaces, means operated by the yarn for driving one of the members, and at least one of the members being oi! resiliently flexible character. I

1. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable disks mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, at least one of thedisks being driven on its axis, one of the disks being of a smooth-surfaced rigid material, and the other being of resiliently flexible character and being flexed out of its normal plane of disposition by pressure against the other member, and means to guide the thread between the pressed portions of the disks.

8. A thread tension device comprising two rotatable members mounted on axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other and arranged to press against each other along an outer portion of their opposed faces, means operated by the yarn for driving one of the members, and at least one of the members being of resiliently flexible character and being flexed out of its normal plane of disposition bypressure against the other member. v

HENRY J. McDERMOTT,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,428 Sherd Aug. 21, 1900 1,594,958 Howie Aug. 3, 1926 2,118,981 Wachsam Nov. 7, 1939 2,333,705 Cooper No 9, 1943 

